Vas was alone. Truly alone among a group of people. He was surrounded by Alphabet and his squad on the roof of the Imperial Garrison. Nonetheless, he was alone. His squad was gone. Zero was checking out the incident at the residence of the Senator's wife, Ace was still on his special assignment –which the rebels surprisingly hadn't fallen for yet– and Creed …
When he would get his hands on these rebels, he would tear them apart to the last man. But despite all the Imperials searching the city, they hadn't found anything. The Star Destroyer was looming only a few hundred metres above the city, reminding everyone that the Empire wouldn't leave until they had gotten what they wanted. The TIE-Fighters kept anyone from sleeping last night as they raced over the city only reinforced this.
"Sir," Alphabet spoke up. "Squad seven reports contact with hostiles."
"How many?"
"They encountered two Rodian hostiles as they entered a building."
"Order the nearest squad to help them and call in again if they need more support. This is either an accidental find or a diversion. We need to be ready when they make their appearance. They won't escape me again."
And so the wait began again. As the Stormtroopers systematically searched the city, countless crimes were exposed but none that interested him at the moment. Maybe he needed to change his strategy. It would help to have the support of the populace to report suspicious activity. The task force had made a distinctly negative impression on the people of Kuuniru, at least from their point of view. Maybe it was time to show them why they were doing this.
"Captain Setaro, do you copy?"
"Yes, Agent. Any news?"
"Not yet but we will find them. I want you to access the local HoloNet station and change its program for a few minutes every hour."
"Are we even allowed to change the official Imperial broadcast?"
"The ISB has special privileges. I have some material approved by Coruscant showing the last attack by the Dreamers, the group that formed after the death of the terrorist Saw Gerrera. They attacked an Imperial convoy last week and destroyed an apartment complex in the process, causing more than a hundred casualties, mostly women and children. This should show the population why we're trying to find these rebels. Maybe they'll finally understand that we're here to protect them."
"Do you have the material with you or can I access it through the Challenger's database? I can't exactly spare a shuttle to pick you up right now. Four shuttles are just not enough even for a task force as small as mine. I regularly have to use the Gozanti escorts as freighters which leaves the Challenger even more vulnerable to attacks."
"I will grant you access to the respective files. Although this is not exactly according to the regulations it shouldn't-"
"Sir," Alphabet interrupted for the tenth time in the last few hours. "Squad ten has made contact with the enemy. They report they saw the green Twi'lek we're searching for."
"Pilot, get us in the air. Alert the nearby squads to converge on their location."
Na'tuna saw the Stormtrooper sergeant raise his hand to his helmet in the distinctive pose of calling for backup. Their time was running out. He looked around at his ragtag group. How many would die today to protect the cause?
He ran to the back and pulled the Senator up from where he was crouching in the corner.
"Alright men, we need to reach the speeder on the outside before the Empire arrives in force. On my command. Charge!"
His people squeezed through the one door out of the building, a deadly oversight when choosing the hideout. It served as a funnel for the enemy just as well as for his own troops. The first brave warrior didn't even make it through the door before he was killed by a dozen bolts. The next got a step further and the third even managed to raise his weapon.
With the dogged determination of the truly hopeless or the truly insane. Na'tuna pushed the Senator in the direction of the door.
"Please, I don't want to die," he protested, trying to push back into the safety of his corner.
"You won't. My men are doing that for you."
As they neared the door, they had to climb a pile of corpses. Only four of his rebels were left, exchanging volleys with the remaining two Stormtroopers who had fallen back into an alley.
Na'tuna ran around the corner of the building and pushed the Senator into the backseat of the waiting speeder. With its enclosed passenger cabin, no one would be able to spot the Senator with a glance.
He accelerated hard and rushed with full speed to the edge of the city, leaving these rebels behind yet again. He couldn't keep losing fighters at this rate. Six rebels for one Stormtrooper wouldn't bring him the victory. But it showed how well-trained the enemy was and how desperate his rebels were. They had to break the encirclement of the city today or else this rebellion would be over.
After rushing down the street for half a click, he turned into a side alley to shake any pursuers. In the distance, he saw a shuttle landing in front of the house and several squads of Stormtroopers streaming into the street from all directions.
He turned the speeder at the next intersection and at a more moderate pace, he approached the outskirts of the city and the inevitable blockade set up by the Imperials.
"Lie down in the foot area, so you won't be visible from the outside," Na'tuna said, looking back at the scowling Senator.
"And why should I do that? The soldiers will recognise me."
"Do you want to see your children again? Do you want your children to be released? If we don't arrive back at base, I have given orders to kill them."
"You monster, once I'm out of here I swear I will kill you."
"I would expect nothing less. Now get down."
With that problem taken care of, there was only the slight issue of the ten Imperial Army troopers behind the very solid barricades blocking the street. In a stroke of luck, he might be able to rush past them but he would never be able to outrun the TIE-Fighters.
So he decelerated and brought the speeder to a stop well clear of the barricade and hopefully also so far that the troopers wouldn't see the Senator at first glance.
Na'tuna put on his worried face and stepped outside.
"The city is on lockdown. We have to ask you to turn back."
"Please, can't you make an exception? I was picking up medicine in the city when they announced the lockdown. My family is waiting for me. My wife is pregnant. The baby should come every day. I just went into the city to get something to lessen her pain and now I'm already gone for more than a day, please. Can't you make an exception?" Na'tuna pleaded and sank to his knees.
The apparent leader of the group looked around uncomfortably at the other troopers.
"Do you have children? A family?" When the man avoided his gaze, he pushed on. "Would you abandon the people you love? Wouldn't you do everything in your power to save them?"
"We can't," he murmured. "We would lose our jobs and be put on trial. I don't want to mess with the ISB. Please turn back. The lockdown should be over soon."
"I could make it worth the trouble. I have a good job, it pays well. Please just let me through."
The squad leader made one step back. "No, don't do this."
"Look," Na'tuna said and unhooked the pouch from his belt. "In here are twenty thousand credits. Two thousand for everyone."
The leader didn't reach for it but flexed his hand anxiously.
"Wait, I have more." Pulling out the last of his money –the last money the entire rebellion had–, he grabbed the trooper's hand, placed the two pouches inside and closed his hand around them. Looking him in the eye, he said with all the conviction he could muster, "Please let me through. I swear, no one will ever hear of this."
Another trooper stepped forward and put a hand on Na'tuna's shoulder. "That is a very generous offer, my friend. We won't keep a father from his family, right?"
The first officer looked between Na'tuna, the second trooper and all the others who stood silently in the back. Some were even giving him subtle nods.
"Alright, but no one can ever know about this. If anyone snitches, we are all done for. We will all be put on trial even the snitch."
Turning to Na'tuna, the leader said, "And you get moving quickly. I hope your wife is alright."
"Thank you, thank you," Na'tuna said and hurried back to the speeder, trying desperately to suppress the laughter.
How thick-headed could that Sergeant be? Did he really believe there was an ill, pregnant wife somewhere? It had been some time since someone actually believed the tale and not just saw it for what it was: a nice story to accompany the bribe and soothe the mind.
The troopers moved the barricades out of the way and let him through without complaint. Once he was clear of the city, Na'tuna accelerated to full speed and began laughing.
"I can't believe this worked, you're crazy," the Senator grumbled.
"You should be glad it worked. Now you'll see your children again. At least for a bit. I will need to leave you for a bit but don't you worry, I still need you for one final appearance. One that will hopefully surprise the entire planet."
Sensing what was coming, the Senator mumbled, "As long as I can see my children one more time before it. Will you really release them once this is over?"
"Yes, you have my word. We will attack the Imperials one more time to give us the time to finish our other plan and then we'll let them go. I won't hurt children, I'm not a monster after all, right?"